Northern Arts Festival

15/04/2026

15/04/2026

Hamba Kahle”Mella” Sorely missed. Môre Sal Die Son Weer Skyn

15/04/2026

A legendary icon of the North has left an incredible legacy and an indelible mark on our hearts.

Hamba kahle, Melvin “Mella” Matthews.

A son of the Northern Areas, a prolific songwriter, a visionary voice — your music and your spirit will echo for generations to come.

As the Northern Arts Festival, and as its founder, we pause to honour a man who was not only gifted, but deeply committed to the growth and upliftment of others. Melvin was one of the many artists we honoured at our inaugural Northern Arts Festival Bilson Music Awards, held from 2007-2017— a fitting tribute then, and even more meaningful now.

We shared countless conversations about the music industry, about purpose, and about the responsibility we carry to nurture and develop emerging artists in the Northern Areas. He carried that mission with passion and authenticity.

When others denied you water from your own reservoir as you walked through the desert, we chose to give you your flowers while you could still receive them.

Today, we mourn. But we also celebrate a life that mattered — a life that gave, created, and inspired.

You will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.

Môre sal die son weer skyn.

18/02/2025

To all those cowboys crying in the dark…

05/09/2024

I felt like Job when I wrote this song this morning. So many things transpired over a short period of time. In a space of two months I lost my eldest brother, my nephew and someone very dear to me. My soul is hurting in me. I know that my Redeemer lives. Môre Sal Die Son Weer Skyn.

SOMETIMES

VERSE:
There is a time
My soul cries out
Why Lord why
What is this all about

But the more I ask
The less You speak
Your strength is made perfect
When I am weak

CHORUS:
Sometimes Your silence
Speaks louder than words
Sometimes Your presence
Is all I need when I hurt
Weeping may last for the night
But joy comes in the morning
Sometimes time is everything

VERSE:
There is a time
And there is a season
For everything
Under the sun

Have mercy on me
Oh Lord I pray
Pick me up and carry me
Through this day

CHORUS:
Sometimes Your silence
Speaks louder than words
Sometimes Your presence
Is all I need when I hurt
Weeping may last for the night
But joy comes in the morning
Sometimes time is everything

BRIDGE:
You make all things beautiful
In Your time
All things work together for my good
Your Word is yes and amen

CHORUS:
Sometimes Your silence
Speaks louder than words
Sometimes Your presence
Is all I need when I hurt
Weeping may last for the night
But joy comes in the morning
Sometimes time is everything
x2

Outro:
I will be quiet
To allow You to speak to me
Lord please do not be silent
As I patiently wait on Thee

Words & Music: Billy Paulson
Publisher: Bilson Music
©️2024
Written: 5 September 2024

30/08/2024

Please help me to share this PRAYER OF BLESSING...

31/05/2024

Woke up this morning a day after my 57th birthday and felt compelled to adress somebody that needs to know my story. It’s called BY THE WAY…

BY THE WAY…
I was told that
Education is the key to all your dreams in life one day
If you ever plan to become anything and not wanting to go astray
But life has done me wrong
And I wasn’t strong enough to hold on, for too long

Spending two years in the same grade for me wasn’t cool
Nobody objected in grade eight When I decided to give up and finally quite school
Anyway, in their eyes I was just another hopeless case
One more statistic in society
Living off welfare and the state

I took to the streets where I tried to find my place in this world
All I had was a dream and a will as strong as a mule
In the concrete jungle I taught myself how to survive
I graduated with flying colours from the university of life

Life knocked me down seven times and more
But each time I was down I got up off the floor
I would not be here today to tell you my story
If it wasn’t for God, His goodness, His grace and His Glory

Survival for me is the key to my dream
As I still continually find myself swimming upstream
By the way over time
I’ve achieved the odd certificates on the wall
But that doesn’t stop me from
setting new goals for me at all

Consistency, hard work, resilience and persistence
Will always be my friends for life
Without them I would have never been here, and able to survive

By the way
Don’t anyone unless you know their life story

Written: 31/05/2024
Publisher: Bilson Music
©️2024

30/05/2024

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; for that reason the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:11…

31/03/2024

Hy het opgestaan
Ons Koning lewe
Die Graf is leeg
Die vyand bewe

Dood, waar is jou angel
Doderyk, waar is jou oorwinning
Die Here, sterk en geweldig is Koning
Aan Sy heerskappy is daar geen einde nie

Hy word genoem, Raadsman
Sterke God, Ewige Vader, Vrede Vors
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS
is Sy naam…

Woorde & Musiek: Billy Paulson/ Die Bybel
Uitgewer: Bilson Music
©️ 2024
Geskryf: 31/03/2024